The scent of woodsmoke and damp earth clung to the air as Lyra drifted off to sleep, the rhythmic creak of her window a lullaby against the quiet hum of the night. She dreamt of Elara, a friend plagued by nightmares of swirling shadows and endless, starless skies. Elara, usually vibrant and full of laughter, had become withdrawn, her eyes haunted by something Lyra couldn't fathom. In Lyra's dream, she found herself beside Elara, a silent witness to her friend’s terror. The oppressive darkness of Elara's nightmare pressed in on Lyra, suffocating her with its chilling despair.